CE/CME and PRICE

Andrew Weil, MD The Future of Psychedelic and Medical Marijuana Research

Course Description:
Forty years ago, a U.S.-led global backlash ended the possibility of researching potential beneficial effects of psychedelics and marijuana. Many studies had shown psychedelics to be useful for managing anxiety and depression in terminal cancer patients, for treating alcoholism and opiate addiction and for catalyzing spiritual/mystical experience. At the same time marijuana was found to be effective for relieving the nausea and vomiting often associated with cancer chemotherapy. Now that restrictions on research with these agents are easing, a new generation of investigators is continuing these studies, as well as looking at MDMA for PTSD, psilocybin for OCD, and marijuana for MS, chronic pain, PTSD and other conditions. Contemporary research on positive effects of psychedelics and marijuana needs to be carefully designed and conducted to avoid another backlash from anti-drug zealots.

Date of original release: April 18, 2010Termination date (date after which enduring material is no longer certified for credit): April 17, 2012